Blackout shield



I April 13, 1943.

D. H. WRIGHT BLACKOUT SHIELD Filed May 28, 1942 INVENTOR.

@ I flax 4406f ##7647' Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES' PTT OFFICE BLACKOUT SHIELD Donald B. Wright, Garden City, Y.

Application May 28, 1942, Serial No. 444,809

4 Claims.

My invention relates to devices to enable one who resides in a district or township where 'a dimout or blackout is required to have some light without violating the air wardens regulations.

It is well known that when a complete blackout is ordered that no light must be visible from the outside of the building.

Compliance with this order entails the putting out of the stair lights as well as all others. This not only causes considerable inconvenience, but it also increases the possibility of accidents of more or less serious nature.

My invention has for its principal object to construct a shield which when placed on a hall light (although it will be clear from the hereinafter contained description that it is by no means restricted to such lights) the treads of the stairs will be illuminated although no light will be seen from the windows of the building.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process of making a shield for this purpose so that it can be formed from a single piece of cardboard.

A further object is to provide a device which is formed from a single piece of cardboard.

A further object is to provide a device which can be made from a cylinder of any desired material.

A further object is to provide a shield which can be adapted for use in trains, cars or busses.

My means of accomplishing this result may be more readily apprehended by having reference to the accompanying drawing which is hereunto annexed and made a part of this specification in which- Fig. l is a plan view of the blank expanded;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the assembled dev1ce;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a modification. of my device; and

Fig. 5 is a further modification of my device showing a glass enclosure. I

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire specification.

As shown in the drawing my invention comprises an enclosure having a top Ill, bottom H and side walls l2.

Preferably when made of felt or fibrous material, the material such as cardboard should be impregnated with some fire resistant solution.

The top wall [0 is provided with a central opening l3 which is adapted to fit a standard electric light socket l4 and a plurality of ventilating openings l5. Inside the enclosure but near the top H] I mount a partition I6 which is spaced from the top Ill. This partition It has an opening II in its center adapted to receive the neck or stem [8 of an electric light bulb IQ of standard construction. A plurality of openings 20 are also made in the partition for ventilating purposes. These openings 20 however, must be out of register with the openings l5 in the top ID in order to avoid the escape of any light rays.

In the lower part of the shield I mount a false bottom 2| which is spaced from the bottom II. The bottom H has a central aperture 22 which as shown is in register with an opening 23 in the false bottom 2!. I have found in practice that it is not essential that these openings be concentric. This latter opening 23 is preferably less than one half the diameter of the opening or aperture 22 in the bottom II.

I have found in practice that unless this is done the edge of the opening will be bright, but when constructed as described the opening 23 although it will have a bright edge it is not visible by an observer.

In Fig. 1 I show the method of forming the shield from a single piece of fibrous material. As shown the body 24 is scored as at 25 to form the side walls l2. At one end of the body 24 are two extensions 26 and 21. The extension 26 which forms the top It) adjoins the body 24. It has a central aperture l3 and flaps 28, and a tuck or keeper 29. In the other extension 21 which forms the partition IS the flaps are spaced from the body leaving a portion 30 of the exten- .sion 21 adapted to be folded into the enclosure.

The extent of the portion 30 will determine the extent of the space between the top and the partition. The flaps 28 may be coated with an adhesive if desired though it is not essential.

The extension 21 is also provided with the opening I! for the stem of the electric light bulb.

Similar extensions 3| and 32 are formed at the other end of the body 24. The extension 3| extending from the body 24 while the extension 32 has the spacing portion 33. Each of these extensions are formed with flaps 34 similar to the extensions 28. They are also provided with the openings 22 and 23 in the bottom II and false bottom 2i respectively. It will be clear from the foregoing that when folded upon the scores or serrations that an enclosure similar to the one shown in Fig. 2 will be produced.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a cylindrical body 35 which may be equipped with a top 36 and partition 31, corresponding to the top Ill and partition it in the enclosure shown in Fig. 2. A bottom 38 and false bottom 39 is fitted to the lower end of the body 35, these correspond to the bottom II and false bottom 2! of the enclosure first described.

All of these parts may be fastened in place by an adhesive or they may be detachable and merely secured in place by friction.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my invention applied to a glass enclosure 40 preferably formed of black glass. In this form the top 4! of the body is formed to be secured to a standard shade holder. In the bottom of the body 40 I mount a bottom and false bottom similar in all respects to the bottom 38 and false bottom 39 so that additional description is not needed. When used with a glass body they may be secured in place by other means than friction.

Having described my invention what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a blackout enclosure shield for electric lamps, comprising a top, sides, and a bottom below and spaced from an electric lamp bulb to be positioned at the top, a central aperture in the top adapted to register with an electric lamp socket, a partition inside said enclosure adjacent the top but in spaced relation thereto, said partition and top having staggered openings therein whereby heated air may escape from inside said enclosure, the partition having a central opening through which the neck of an electric lamp may extend, an aperture in the bottom, a false bottom mounted inside said enclosure and spaced below the electric lamp and above the bottom; there being a central opening in said false bottom one half the diameter of the aperture in the bottom, whereby the edge of said aperture is shielded from the direct light rays emitted by the lamp.

2. A blackout shield as set forth in claim 1, having the edge of the false bottom abutting the wall of said shield; all surfaces of said shield being coated with non-reflecting material.

3. A blackout shield as set forth in claim 1, in which the aperture in the bottom and the opening in the false bottom are in register; all surfaces of said shield being coated with a nonreflecting material.

4. A blackout shield as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cross section of the shield is substantially rectangular while the opening in the false bottom and the aperture in the bottom are round; all surfaces of said shield being coated with a non-reflecting material.

DONALD H. WRIGHT. 

